Backstrom will probably get more ice time when he gets into game speed shape. These other guys have been playing at a high level for 3 months now, he's not just going to show up and get 20 minutes a game off the bat.
Some one should check this stat: Empty net points that Sergei Kostitsyn scores. He's collected a point on all of the last 5 Omsk empty netters (I think at least)...